Not content with their climb to third in the Deloitte Football Money Leauge for 2012-13 revenues - knocking Manchester United down to fourth - Bayern today extended their partnership with Allianz SE, the insurance company and long-term partner.

In return for an 8.33% stake in the club, Bayern have been handed a cool £90.7million (€110million), which values the club at a not inconsiderable £1.08billion.

“We are all extremely pleased to place our partnership with a partner of many years, a global company at home in the world of sport and boasting a high affinity to football, on a completely new foundation,” said executive board member Jan-Christian Dreesen.

"Allianz has been a trusted partner of our club for a long time."

The move sees Allianz join fellow Bavarian companies Adidas and Audi in becoming a shareholder of the club, with the trio now holding 25% of the club's stock company, FC Bayern Munchen AG, between them.

In accordance with the club’s statutes, the main shareholder remains the club's members, with 75% and Bayern have passed a resolution that no more than 30% of the club can be sold to outside parties.

Additionally, Bundesliga rules dictate that 50%+1 must remain in the hands of club's fans - thus ruling out the kind of situation widely prevalent in the Premier League that sees wealthy overseas benefactors (such as the Glazer family, Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour) purchase total control of clubs in the English top flight.